Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues

The Clefftones

Posted on February 12 2019 by dion1

Caswell "Cas" Bridges

The Clefftones (Brooklyn, NY)

Personnel :

Caswell "Cas" Bridges (Lead Tenor)

Robert Adams (Tenor)

Nolan (Tenor)

Hershel Guerrant (Bass)

Al Jackson (Baritone)

Discography :

Single :
1955 - My Dearest Darling / (I’m Afraid) The Masquerade Is Over (Old Town 1011)

Unreleased :
1955 - Gloria (Old Town)
1955 - Guess Who (Old Town)
1955 - Little Girl (Old Town)

Biography :

Sometime in late 1954, Caswell "Cas" Bridges left the four Fellows and started working as the singer with a small band run by blind pianist Cliff Driver. When they started thinking about making a full group out of it, Cliff rounded up some singers he knew : baritone Al Jackson , Robert Adams (tenor), Nolan ? (tenor), and Hershel Guerrant (bass). They called themselves the "Clefftones. The Clefftones recorded at least six songs on March 4, 1955: "My Dearest Darling," "The Masquerade Is Over," "Gloria," "Guess Who," "Little Girl," and "The Last Roundup." "The Masquerade Is Over" and "My Dearest Darling" were released in March 1955. These failed to take off and that was the end of the Clefftones' recording career.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/4Fellows/4fellows.html

Songs :


           My Dearest Darling                (I’m Afraid) The Masquerade Is Over


                   Gloria                      Guess Who / The Last Roundup (not them)

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The Don-A-Tones

Posted on February 12 2019 by dion1

1958 - John Passarelli, Fritz Falanka, John Belfato, Louis Passarelli and Bill Verrastro

The Don-A-Tones (Port Chester, New York)

Personnel :

John Passarelli

Fritz Falanka

John Belfato

Louis Passarelli

Bill Verrastro

Discography :

?

Biography :

Formed on a Port Chester street corner in 1956, the group was made up of a bunch of kids messing around. They are John Passarelli, Fritz Falanka, John Belfato, Louis Passarelli and Bill Verrastro. The Don-A-Tones were born, named after their manager’s (Don Catalano) baby girl, Donna.

The Don-A-Tones

One day, a passer by suggested that they try their luck at a local talent show. So they did and they won. Three years later, they were working out a deal for a high-paying record contract with RCA-Victor Records. But the music industry was really screwed up back then. There was a lot of payola going on with DJs and they didn’t really have the sources to get her records played.

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The Maroons

Posted on February 9 2019 by dion1

Gary Edwards, Dave Osbourne, Bill Rauth, Jon Anderson, George Ridings, Larry Joe True & Tommy Colgin.

The Maroons (Louisville, KY.)

Personnel :

Chuck Campbell (Lead)

Jimmy "Hutch" Hutcherson (Voval)

Merl Dean (Vocal)

Ronnie Carter (Vocal)

Ernie Donnell (Lead Guitar), Carl Boyd (Rhythm Guitar), Larry Joe True (Bass Guitar), Jon Anderson (Sax), John Moore (Trumpet) , George Ridings (Drums)

Discography :

1962 - Someday I'll Be The One / Don't Leave Me Baby, Don't (Queen 24012)
1963 - At The End Of Each Day / Just Checkin (Inst) (Jimbo 6040/1)

Biography :

The Maroons, a singing group and band made up of Eastern students was formed in 1961. Led by Chuck Campbell, the group plays at colleges and high schools and has made an appearance on television. In April 1962, The Maroons recorded "Someday I'll Be The One" and "Don't Leave Me Baby, Don't". The single will be released on Queen Records (a King Records subsidiary label) . Some time after Chuck Campell left the group and was replaced by Gary Edwards. Gary Lynn Edwards was born in Corbin, Kentucky on February 9, 1941. His father, Mike Edwards, had a radio show on WCTT which is essentially where Gary got his start singing for large audiences. By the time he was 16, he was given his own radio show on WCTT as well. In addition to Gary Edwards, who replaces Chuck Campbell, the group will undergo many membership changes over the years: Bill Rauth (Guitar), Tommy Colgin (Keyboards), Dave Osbourne (Trumpet). In 1963, With Gary on lead the Maroons recorded "At The End Of Each Day" in the studios of WEKY in Richmond, KY. The Maroons were very popular in the Louisville area. The group will separate a few times later. Gary Edwards Graduated from Eastern University in 1963 and enrolled in the University of Kentucky Law School, at which time Gary formed the band called "The Embers" and continued to perform all over Kentucky, at fraternities, sororities, and sock hops, anywhere they could perform.

Songs


Don't Leave Me Baby, Don't                 Someday I'll Be The One


At The End Of Each Day                      Just Checkin (Inst.)

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The Vals (1)

Posted on February 9 2019 by dion1

The Vals (1) (

The Vals (1) (Chicago, IL)

Personnel :

Billy Gibson (Lead)

David Wilkerson Jr.

Clarence Greene

Ernie Morris

William Taylor (Bass)

Discography :

The Vals (1)
1961 - Compensation Check / The Song of a Lover (Unique Laboratories)

Vicki Johnson bb The Vals (1)
1961 - I'll Get You / Bells Are Ringing (Unique Laboratories)

Biography :

Connie Toole Owner of the label Theron Records, recorded four sides: two on a vocal group, The Vals, "The Song of a Lover" and "Compensation Check." The record were released on Val Hutchinson's Unique Laboratories label, but the labels indicated that they were "Produced by Theron Record Company." According to Wilkerson of the Vals only 200 copies of each were pressed up, apparently to test the waters. When nothing happened the Vals record was dead. The mid-1950s doowop sound of the record made it too dated for 1961. Only five copies are still known to exist. The Vals Billy Gibson (lead), David Wilkerson Jr.,Clarence Greene, Ernie Morris and William Taylor (bass) were used on one other Unique Laboratories release to back a singer named Vicki Johnson, but their support is anemic and of little interest to doowop fans.

Songs :

The Vals (1)

The Song of a Lover Compensation Check

Vicki Johnson bb The Vals (1)

I'll Get You

...

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The Leaguers

Posted on February 8 2019 by dion1

The Leaguers (Montclair, New Jersey)

Personnel :

Sam Argote

Michael DeJesus

Ronald Bascombe

Albert Lawson

Discography :

?

...

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The Four Labels

Posted on February 7 2019 by dion1

The Four Labels

The Four Labels (Indianapolis)

Personnel :

Craig Reynolds

Dave Dickinson

Randy Entcriain

Avie Celender

Discography :

1959 - Lookin’ / Susie (Gra Low 838G-5524)

Biography :

Vocal group from North Central high school in Indianapolis, the boys call themselves The Four Labels . The group were composed by Craig Reynolds, Dave Dickinson, Avie Celender and Randy Entcriain. The young singers were managed by Avie Celender’s mother . In 1959, Craig Reynolds composed two song "Lookin’" and "Susie". The group recorded the two songs for Gra Low Records owned by Fred Lowery. The single is released in Indianapolis and in Ohio. "

Songs :

Susie Lookin’

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The Teenos aka The Five Tinos aka The Esquires (3)

Posted on February 3 2019 by dion1

Melvin and Marvin Walker (3rd and 4th from left)

The Teenos (Memphis, Tenn.)
aka The Five Tinos aka The Esquires (3)

Personnel :

Luchrie Jordan

Haywood Hebron

Marvin Walker

Melvin Walker

Melvin Jones

Discography :

The Five Tinos
Single:
1955 - Don't Do That / Sitting By The Window (Sun 222)
Unreleased:
1955 - Gonna Have Let You Be
1955 - Mambo Baby
1955 - Memories
1955 - My Only Angel
1955 - Go Ahead
1955 - Rockin' Chair

The Teenos
1958 - Love Only One / Alrightee (Dub 2839)

The Esquires (3)
1956 - Only The Angels Know / One Word For This (Hi-Po 1003)

Biography :

A Memphis group, the Five Tinos comprised local college students. There were Luchrie Jordan, Haywood Hebron, Marvin Walker, Melvin Walker, and Melvin Jones. They probably went to Booker T. Washington High School in south Memphis. The Five Tinos have a session at Sun Studio 706 Union Ave Memphis Tennessee the May 26, 1955. The Tinos recorded a total of eight tracks . "Don't Do That" and "Sitting By My Window" which are coupled for release as Sun 222 released June 21. The two Walker brothers had a younger brother, William, who later joined another Memphis group, The Four kings aka the Four canes . Some reckon that they're the same group as The Teenos & The Esquires on Hi-Po. The composers credit on the Teenos single "Love Only One" is Tinos for like "Sitting By The Window" & "Don't Do That" of the Five Tinos. The Other song is credited to M.Walker (Melvin or Marvin Walker?)… Ok For the Teenos?

Songs :

The Five Tinos

Don't Do That / Sitting By The Window Gonna Have Let You Be

Mambo Baby

The Teenos

Love Only One Alrightee

The Esquires (3)

Only The Angels Know One Word For This

...

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Little Bobby Riviera & The Hemlocks

Posted on February 3 2019 by dion1

Little Bobby Riviera & The Hemlocks

Little Bobby Riviera & The Hemlocks (Bronx, New York)

Personnel :

Bobby Rivera "Little" (Lead)

Chino "Snooky" (Bass)

Johnny Manfredonia (Baritone)

Saint Julian Jefferson (Second Tenor)

Eugene Savaghn (First Tenor)

Discography :

1957 - Cora Lee / Joys Of Love (Fury 1004)

Biography :

He was 11 going on 12 when on a cold winter day, Bobby Riviera accompanied by his friends Chino (Snooky) the bass singer, Johnny Manfredonia the baritone, Saint Julian Jefferson the second tenor and Eugene Savaghn first tenor, walked into The Beltone Recording Studio in NYC. The Hemlocks used to practice in the P.A.L. Center at 153rd street and Morris Ave in the Bronx as well as in the stairwells of the Melrose Projects. At The Beltone Recording Studio, they will only need 5 takes for recorded "Cora Lee" and "Joys Of Love". The sax player on "Cora Lee" was none other than King Curtis. The Single will be released by Fury Records owned by Bobby Robinson in 1957.

Songs :

Cora Lee Joys Of Love

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The Elites (4)

Posted on February 1 2019 by dion1

The Elites (4)

The Elites (4) (Detroit, MI.)

Personnel :

Patti Gilson

Pam Rushman

Dianne Norrod

Discography :

The Elites (4)
1962 - You Mean So Much To Me / Tell Him Again (Hi-Lite 106)

Patti Gilson
1963 - Pulling Petals (From A Daisy) / Don't You Tell A Lie (Golden World ‎6)

Biography :

The Elites from Detroit were Patti Gilson, Pam Rushman and Dianne Norrod (Patti, Pam & Ann). The girls recorded two songs in 1962 called "You Mean So Much" and "Tell Him Again". The Single was released by Hi Lite Records co-owned by Dorothy Pierce. Dorothy Pierce owned REM and Pillar Records and she was a co-owner in Hi-Lite Records. She was the A&R person snd main producer in all 3 labels.

The Elites (4)
Pam, Patti and Ann with friend

The Elites traveled The Reflections (Just Like Romeo and Juliet) and perform with the Beach Boys, Stevie Wonder and others. Patti Gilson made another record in 1963 called "Pullin Petals (from a Daisy)" b/w "Don't You Tell A Lie" released by Golden World Records owned by Ed Wingate and Joanne Bratton in Detroit.

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Elites (4)

Tell Him Again You Mean So Much To Me

...

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The Four Steps

Posted on February 1 2019 by dion1

The Four Steps

The Four Steps (Cerritos, CA)

Personnel :

?

Discography :

?

Biography :

Vocal group from Cerritos, CA. who cut a demo in the early 60'.

...

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